1954 Ford F-100 - First-Timer

If you have a Classic Cruiser and want to see it here, email at least six high-resolution photos and background info to the address above, or mail prints to: Classic Trucks, Attn: Grant Peterson, 774 S. Placentia Ave., Placentia, CA 92870.

Jerry Hancock bought his '54 Ford F-100 in June 1999 from his brother-in-law knowing that it needed to be restored. His first attempt was with a local guy who kept it over two years without making much progress. Robert Howard, the son of a friend of Jerry's, runs a paint and body shop and is also a good mechanic. Robert skillfully finished the mechanical work that the first guy never got around to. From here it took Jerry several years to take the truck apart and clean up and paint the frame with POR-15, but it took far less time for him to figure out he was not a painter. It was back to Robert, who agreed to paint the truck in between his normal customers.

The truck started going back together in January 2007, which started with Jerry staining and varnishing the oak bed wood that he got from Bruce Horkey's Wood & Parts. He and his wife are members of the Crossroads Cruisers Car Club in Victoria, Texas, and their fellow club members answered lots of questions and gave advice and encouragement during the build. Listed below are most of the things that have been done to the truck. The F-100 is Chevy-powered and features a Chrysler clip, power brakes, Flowmasters, a Lokar floor shifter, American Racing Torq-Thrusts, Vintage Air, and a CPP tilt hood kit, just to name a few.